FRIDAY,MAR.15,2002
NEWS
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN = 3A
Universities, Regents try to find compromise
By Meredith Carr Kansan staff writer
Students may have more restrictions on their course load if the Board of Regents doesn't adapt its policy on upper-level class credit.
Last fall, the Board of Regents implemented an increase in junior/senior credit hours required for an undergraduate degree. Under the Regents' policy, students would complete 54 hours of upper-level classes for graduation. The University of Kansas requires only 40 hours.
Officials from the University and other Regents institutions compiled a report which outlined concerns and consequences of increasing required hours.
The report suggested a compromise of 45 credit hours instead of the 54-hour policy.
Student Body President Justin Mills said he had concerns about any increased requirements.
"I think increasing the hours is also increasing the student's time at the University." Mills said.
The University requires graduates to complete 124 hours of credit before graduation. If 54 of those hours are designated for upper-level classes, Regents universities are concerned students will suffer.
The report said students may spend an additional semester ful-filling requirements, making it harder to graduate in four years. The report also addressed the financial burden that would accompany the increase in hours.
The universities also raised concerns that students would be
unable to explore classes outside of their majors.
"We are concerned about the effect of the 54-hour rule and how it will affect the quality of the degree received by the student," said Tom Beisecker, university council president.
Jack Wempe, Board of Regents member, said the report helped identify current academic standards of the Regent schools, and said the Regents would decide whether to change its requirements to reflect the academic standard demonstrated in the report.
The Regents' next meeting is April 17 and 18. A decision is hoped to be made by this time.
mcarr@kansan.com This story was edited by Jenna Goepfert.
Contact Carr at
SMILE COALITION
KIMBERLY THOMPSON/KANSAN
Paul Bammel, Andover junior and SMILE presidential candidate, bats around a smiley-face balloon while the band Filibuster plays in the background. SMILE had its kick-off party Wednesday night at The Hawk, 1340 Ohio St.
During the past year and a half, the Bush administration has been frequently criticized for its religious leanings.
By Maggie Koerth Kansan staff writer
Mixed reactions about Bush's religious proposal
Groups like the American Atheists Inc. have accused the Bush administration of violating the separation of church and state and trying to evangelize through politics. The group cited Bush's faith-based initiative plan and religious statements made by Bush administration appointees since Sept. 11, most notably Attorney General John Ashcroft.
Rachel Bernard, Lawrence junior, said she was most upset about abortion laws passed by the Bush Administration.
In January of 2001, Bush signed the "global gag rule," a policy that restricts foreign nongovernmental organizations that receive U.S. family planning funds from using their own, non-U.S. funds to provide legal abortion services. The rule also restricts NGOs from lobbying their governments for abortion law reform and providing medical counseling or referrals regarding abortion.
"I feel it's okay for individuals to have their own religious opinions but it has no place in political parties and in making laws for others who might not agree," Bernard said.
The national debate on religious rhetoric in politics has spread to the University.
Critics said statements made by Ashcroft were another example of the administration's religious leanings.
Columnist Cal Thomas also quoted Ashcroft saying Islam was "a religion that requires you to send your son to die for God" and Christianity was "a religion where God sent his son to die for you."
sophomore, is a member of the KU Young Republicans club. Follmer said she understood that Ashcroft wanted to voice his beliefs, but thought his opinions were alienating.
"He needs to understand that you can't expect a Muslim to conform to a Christian worldview," she said.
But Thomas Heilke, KU professor of political science, said evangelism was not always the goal of religious references.
"Politicians use religious rhetoric because it is a way to motivate people," Heilke said. "80 to 90 percent of Americans believe in some kind of a god. Invoking deity says what we are doing has a higher purpose."
Helike said religious rhetoric was used to bridge gaps between groups of people who might otherwise have nothing in common.
"The concept of God is important to most people, and we'd hate to think that God is not on our side," he said. "It makes sense to most people. It obviously hasn't hurt the Bush administration's opinion polls."
Others think Bush's agenda is motivated by a power greater than polls.
Nathan Reeves, Kansas City, Kan. sophomore, said he thought Bush had a lot of respect for other religions and just wanted to follow his own faith.
Beth Follmer, Independence
"I think Bush lives by his Christian morals and doesn't want to hide that," Reeves said.
Contact Koerth at mkoerth@kansan.com. This story was edited by Gillian Titus.
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